Michael And Nancy Roark's Deeds

Saline Co., IL, Deeds

H-303

9 March 1864

Michael Roark and Nancy Roark parties of the 1st part

And

Eleanor E. McKenzie and Eliza H. McKenzie and Mary G. McKenzie

$350

NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Section 11 Twp 9 Range 7

40 acres

Signed: Michael Roark

Nancy (her mark) Roark

B. H. Rice, J.P.

Not sure about Deed H-303.  Eleanor E. McKenzie was Michael and Nancy Roark's daughter.  Eleanor's oldest "McKenzie" daughter is Mary Grant McKenzie, but she was supposed to have been born on November 20, 1864, and the date on the deed is March 9, 1864.  How was she listed on the deed before she was born?  Was she actually born in 1863?  Was the date wrong on the deed?  Did I copy it incorrectly?   Eleanor did have a daughter, Elizabeth Andrews, from her second marriage.  Was Elizabeth mistakenly identified as a McKenzie on the deed?

Saline Co., IL, Deeds

H-319

19 March 1864

Michael & Nancy Roark parties of the 1st part

And

James A. & Eliza C. Roark, parties of the 2nd

$200.

N 1/2 of NW 1/4 of NE 1/4 of Section 11 Twp 9 Range 7

20 acres

B. H. Rice, J.P.

 In 1900, James A. Roark, the probable son of Michael and Nancy (Evans) Roark, was married to Ida and living in California.  It is assumed that the James in Deed H-319 was James Alexander Roark, the son of Michael and Nancy Roark.  Who was his wife Eliza C.?  Was it Christiena Lamb who married a James Roark in Gallatin Co., IL, in 1857?

Saline Co., IL, Deeds

P-519

27 July 1868

Michael & Nancy Roark

To

School

Saline Co., IL, Deeds

S-368

28 May 1870

Michael & Nancy Roark

To

Joseph Castle

Coal and water....

Both Michael, who was born in Virginia in 1796, and Nancy, who was born in Kentucky in 1803, were still alive in May of 1870 per Deed S-368.

From Cemeteries of Gallatin Co., Illinois, Book 1:

"The last operators [in the salt producing lands] were Joseph Castle... .  Several years later with Castle and Temple as sole owners, using other efficiencies and coal instead of wood as fuel, production reached 500 bushels in 24 hours. Until 1870 their 4 and 6 mule teams were a common sight on the Shawneetown road as they hauled salt. By 1873 overproduction and the panic with the resultant low prices, the end came to an industry which had furnished much of a new state's revenue.... ."